If you are a recent college graduate, odds are you are taking the brunt of these tough economic times. Two years ago, the unemployment rate among college graduates was less than 3%. Today it’s more than 9%. And with a continuing lack of job creation, those numbers are likely to increase — since the ‘08 and ‘09 grads will soon be competing with the ‘10 grads for the limited number of entry level positions. According to a recent CBS report, the problem is being compounded by the growing debt loads most graduates now have. The average student graduates with $3K in...

The state of New Jersey has developed an innovative program to help stem its projected nursing shortage: a $22 million scholarship fund known as the New Jersey Nursing Initiative. The privately funded initiative provides tuition and living stipend to nurses going back to school for a MA or PhD in nursing. The catch is that recipients must commit to being nursing instructors at one of eight New Jersey schools for at least three years after they graduate. According to a recent article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, the nursing shortage problem is not due to a  lack of interested nursing stude...

If you are interested in earning green by going green, there is good news for you, according to a recent USA TODAY article: Students can choose from a variety of new “green” degree programs. The growth of the green collar job sector has led a number of colleges and universities to incorporate sustainability into their course offerings. David Soto of The Princeton Review says student interest is driving colleges to create programs that offer training in sustainability. Two-thirds of students surveyed for the company’s recent “College Hopes and Worries” survey said ...

We reported back in March that enrollment in online degree and professional certification programs is booming during the economic recession. For those who have been laid off (or fear being laid off), working on an online degree has proven to be an easy and convenient way to enhance their resumes while still having plenty of time to job search. Many would-be online learners have been deterred, however, by the concern that an e-degree will not be respected or accepted by future employers. That tide is turning. Recently a number of experts have joined the distance learning bandwagon. From care...

If you are about to graduate from college, you are probably feeling a bit nervous about finding a job in the current climate. The Boston Globe recently answered a question from one such student — a January ‘10 grad with concerns about making himself attractive to would-be employers. Some of the Globe’s suggestions included: Taking full advantage of your campus career services office Networking with professors and other on-campus professionals in your field Setting a quantitative goal for your job search — for example, five face-to-face networking meetings before ...

Are you interested in becoming a video game programmer? Most programmers have degrees in computer programming, including the special field of computer and video game arts. According to the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), there are plenty of qualified Caucasian men interested in these jobs post-graduation, but women and minorities aren’t as prevalent in the field. That’s why the ESA is offering a sweet, $3,000 scholarship to women and minority students who are pursuing their degree in Computer & Video Game Arts (or a related field). The Foundation has thirty total s...

CNN reported earlier this month that enrollment in online degree programs and professional certifications is booming during the economic recession. For those who have been laid off (or fear being laid off), working on an online degree can be an easy and convenient way to enhance their resumes while still having plenty of time to job search. Online programs are upping their marketing ante to focus on attracting career changers. And it isn’t just the slogans that are changing. A number of new programs have been created to target the most in-demand, recession-proof fields, such as nursin...

With the recession reaching record-high proportions, many of the unemployed are turning to retraining rather than resume writing. A story today on CNN’s Money Magazine focused on this growing trend to retrain, especially among the more “mature” worker. If you are considering going back to school after a layoff, here are three questions you should ask yourself: Can I afford the tuition? Many states offer retraining programs, which are free or highly subsidized, for people receiving unemployment benefits. If, however, you are planning to pay for school yourself, will you be ...

Have you recently decided to go to school? Maybe you’re a first-timer  with your sights set on grad school and then a corporate job. Or maybe you are returning to school after a long break and lots of real-world work experience along the way. Whatever your story, odds are financial aid will be a part of your college tale. The average four-year state school education costs over $50,000.  And it’s going up more than 7% a year, which means that even if you put money aside, you need to be earning a pretty decent interest rate to keep up with that kind of inflation. Then there is ...

If you are a college senior, you are entering the most glorious semester of your educational career. You are riding high, about to graduate and start the next chapter of your life. And in the meantime, you get to enjoy enough collegiate-style entertainment to last a lifetime. Perhaps you know you are going to graduate school and are just waiting on your final acceptance notices. But statistics tell us that most of you will be looking for a job come May — and given the current economic climate, that might feel like a pretty daunting task right about now. Here are some tips for starting...